Clinical and demographic characteristics of COVID-19 cases in Brunei Darussalam: comparison between the first and second waves, 2020 and 2021

Authors

  • Muhammad Umer Malik National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Muhammad Syafiq Abdullah National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Pui Lin Chong National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Rosmonaliza Asli National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Babu Ivan Mani National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Nooraffizan Rahman National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Natalie Riamiza Momin National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Chin Ann Lim National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Justin Wong Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Chee Fui Chong National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Vui Heng Chong National Isolation Centre, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2022.13.3.925

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, demographics, signs and symptoms, retrospective study, Brunei

Abstract

Objective: Differences in clinical manifestations between strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported. This retrospective descriptive study compares the clinical and demographic characteristics of all confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases admitted to the National Isolation Centre (NIC) in the first wave and at the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: All COVID-19 cases admitted to the NIC between 9 March and 6 May 2020 (first wave) and 7–17 August 2021 (second wave) were included. Data were obtained from NIC databases and case characteristics compared using Student’s t-tests and chi-squared tests, as appropriate.

Results: Cases from the first wave were significantly older than those from the second wave (mean 37.2 vs 29.7 years, P<0.001), and a higher proportion reported comorbidities (30.5% vs 20.3%, P=0.019). Cases from the second wave were more likely to be symptomatic at admission (77.7% vs 63.1%, P<0.001), with a higher proportion reporting cough, anosmia, sore throat and ageusia/dysgeusia; however, myalgia and nausea/vomiting were more common among symptomatic first wave cases (all P<0.05). There was no difference in the mean number of reported symptoms (2.6 vs 2.4, P=0.890).

Discussion: Our study showed clear differences in the profile of COVID-19 cases in Brunei Darussalam between the first and second waves, reflecting a shift in the predominating SARS-CoV-2 strain. Awareness of changes in COVID-19 disease manifestation can help guide adjustments to management policies such as duration of isolation, testing strategies, and criteria for admission and treatment.

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Published

25-08-2022

How to Cite

1.
Malik MU, Abdullah MS, Chong PL, Asli R, Mani BI, Rahman N, Momin NR, Lim CA, Wong J, Chong CF, Chong VH. Clinical and demographic characteristics of COVID-19 cases in Brunei Darussalam: comparison between the first and second waves, 2020 and 2021. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2022 Aug. 25 [cited 2026 Apr. 2];13(3). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/925

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2022): July ‒ September

Section

COVID-19: Original Research

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